Problem 41 - Prealgebra

Question

cost of Avocados Jacqueline is buying six avocados. Each avocado weighs 8 oz. How much will they cost her if avocados cost $$ 2.00$ a pound?

Step-by-Step Solution

Answer

$6.00

Step 1: Determine Weight in Pounds

First, convert the weight of one avocado from ounces to pounds. Since there are 16 ounces in a pound, each avocado weighing 8 ounces is equivalent to \( \frac{8}{16} = 0.5 \) pounds.

Step 2: Calculate the Total Weight

Calculate the total weight of six avocados in pounds. Since each avocado weighs 0.5 pounds, for six avocados, the weight is \( 6 \times 0.5 = 3 \) pounds.

Step 3: Calculate the Total Cost

Avocados cost $2.00 per pound. Therefore, the total cost for 3 pounds of avocados is \( 3 \times 2.00 = 6.00 \).

Key Concepts

Cost Calculation

Calculating costs might seem daunting at first, but breaking it down helps. When determining how much you spend, you need two pieces of information: the quantity you're buying and the price per unit. In Jacqueline's case, this means knowing how much each pound of avocado costs. If an avocado weighs 0.5 pounds and avocados cost \(2.00 per pound, you calculate as follows: multiply the number of pounds by the cost of each pound. If you have 3 pounds of avocados at \)2.00 per pound, then you're spending \( 3 \times 2.00 = 6.00 \) dollars in total.

• Identify the quantity (pounds of avocados in this scenario).
• Find the cost per unit (cost per pound).
• Multiply them to get your total cost.

This method applies to many goods, not just avocados. You just need to adjust based on different units or costs.

Weight Measurement

Understanding weight measurement is crucial in many situations, from cooking to shopping. There are different units of weight measurement like ounces and pounds. In the U.S., weight is often measured in pounds and ounces, where 1 pound equals 16 ounces. This conversion is vital when dealing with items sold by the pound, especially when dealing with groceries like avocados.
For instance, if you have an avocado that weighs 8 ounces, to find the weight in pounds, divide by 16: \( \frac{8}{16} = 0.5 \) pounds. This conversion helps in calculating the price when buying produce, as prices are frequently given per pound.

• Learn the key conversion: 1 pound = 16 ounces.
• Use division to convert ounces to pounds.
• Always check for unit consistency in problems.

Knowing this ensures that you're prepared to measure and calculate accurately, saving you from any surprises at checkout.

Problem Solving Steps

Successful problem solving involves a series of structured steps. This helps organize your approach and ensures no aspect is missed. Here’s how it typically works, using Jacqueline's avocado purchase as an example:
1. **Understand the Problem:** Begin by identifying what you're being asked. In this case, know that we need the total cost.

2. **Gather Information:** Write down given values like the weight per avocado and price per pound.

3. **Plan the Solution:** Decide how you'll use this information. For example, convert weights and then calculate total cost.

4. **Execute Plan:** Implement your calculations. Start by converting ounces to pounds, then multiply by the number of units and their cost.

5. **Review:** Check your answers to make sure they make sense.

• Understand and define the problem.
• Collect all necessary data and facts.
• Plan and perform calculations.
• Verify your results.

Approaching problems with these steps makes complex tasks manageable and less confusing.